Dennis Simon, MD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Simon’s basic science and translational research is thematically centered around neuroinflammation. As a Scientist at the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, his first project as principal investigator was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of minocycline in a model of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to determine whether effects were mechanistically linked to neuroinflammation. He found that treatment with minocycline inhibited nuclear to cytosolic translocation of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), reduced activation of microglia, and attenuated neuronal death after TBI compared with vehicle treatment. He presented his work the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress, and received the In-Training Award for this work. Dr. Simon has also conducted translational studies including exploring the expression of the inflammasome component NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) in cerebrospinal fluid from children after severe TBI; and examination of heavy and light chain ferritin in pediatric sepsis. Dr. Simon has also published several thematically-linked review articles and chapters and was a contributing author to the CDC Health Advisory on Acute Flaccid Myelitis. In 2016, Dr. Simon received the inaugural Young Investigator Award from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Trust to fund his ongoing research. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Clark, his current interests include 1) T-lymphocyte mediated acute and chronic neuroinflammation after acquired brain injury (traumatic, ischemia), 2) links between microbiome on neuroinflammation and recovery from acquired brain injury, 3) development of novel therapeutic strategies for children with acquired brain injury, and 4) emerging pediatric neurologic diseases.